Ascending to speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner is ready to take the gavel from Democrat Nancy Pelosi, vowing to "give government back to the people" and bring an end to congressional gridlock.

WASHINGTON — Ascending to speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner is ready to take the gavel from Democrat Nancy Pelosi, vowing to "give government back to the people" and bring an end to congressional gridlock.

"The American people have humbled us. They have refreshed our memories as to just how temporary the privilege to serve is," Boehner says in remarks prepared for his installation later Wednesday as the new speaker. "This is their Congress. It's about them, not us."

Taking control of the House at last, Republicans are rushing straight into a political fight with President Barack Obama over health care and changes in Washington they say voters demanded in the midterm elections.

"No longer can we kick the can down the road," Boehner will tell the House. "The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin carrying out their instructions."

The oath-taking ends two years of Democratic dominance in the capital and ushers in a divided government in the run-up to the 2012 congressional and presidential elections. With campaigns but a short time away, Obama and congressional Republicans are set to square off over the size of government and the taxpayer dollars it spends.

Fresh from a Hawaii vacation, Obama told reporters he expects Republicans initially to "play to their base."

"But I'm pretty confident that they're going to recognize that our job is to govern and make sure that we are delivering jobs for the American people," he added. "My hope is that John Boehner and (Senate GOP leader) Mitch McConnell will realize that there will be plenty of time to campaign for 2012 in 2012."

For now, both parties will build their election-year cases in the congressional arena.

It begins Wednesday when Pelosi, D-Calif., hands the speaker's gavel to Boehner, the affable Ohioan with blue collar roots, and the new Congress is sworn into office. Republicans have promised to run the House with an eye toward saving and cutting spending, and in a manner more open to public scrutiny and debate.

In his prepared remarks, Boehner said the voters "have reminded us that everything here is on loan from them. That includes this gavel, which I accept cheerfully and gratefully, knowing I am but its caretaker."

Flexing its newfound muscles, the incoming GOP majority is preparing to break its own new rules next week when it votes, without hearings or a chance to make changes, to cancel Obama's signature health care law.

"It's not like we haven't litigated this for over a year," Boehner said Tuesday.

Across the Capitol, the Senate opens for business with the Democrats' majority down from 60 votes two years ago to 53 — making it harder to enact legislation Obama seeks. But it gives them more than enough clout to block passage of bills like the health care repeal House Republicans want.

The shrunken Democratic ranks give Republicans leverage to bargain for a reduction in spending on items like a $1.4 billion food safety measure Obama signed Tuesday.

Wednesday's focus is back in the House, where the GOP's new "cut and grow majority" envisions curbs on government spending and regulations to spur the economy, Cantor said.

The first spending cut vote is set for Thursday, a 5 percent reduction in the amount ticketed for lawmakers' and committees' offices and leadership staff. Aides estimate the savings at $35 million over the next nine months.

Republicans have pledged to vote at least once a week on bills that cut spending. And Cantor challenged Obama to include significant spending cuts in his State of the Union address on Jan. 25.

Popular Comments

In other words, the Republicans want more for the special interests with their
power lobbyists, and less for the American people.

Instead of
repealing the health insurance law, how about some ideas? The fact that they
have none shows who
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7:02 a.m. Jan. 5, 2011

Top comment

Furry1993

Somewhere in Utah, UT

If the GOP gave a fig about the United States and its citizens, they would try
to work with the Democrats for the good of the country instead of trying to
create talking points and political hype. They talk about lessening gridlock,
but THEY are the
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7:24 a.m. Jan. 5, 2011

Top comment

Screwdriver

Casa Grande, AZ

Beckians really will believe anything. Such as lowering taxes increases tax
revenues and that allowing insurance companies to do anything they want again
will lower your health care premiums and the deficit. Why not just ask Santa
Claus for a tax
More..